Amid pushback from law enforcement about the pretrial reforms enacted by Albany this past April, the New York Daily News published a story featuring three Legal Aid Society clients whose lives were upended because prosecutors refused to disclose critical evidence until the last possible second allowed by law. Although these clients either were acquitted or had their charges dismissed, each served a lengthy period of pretrial incarceration at Rikers Island with significant personal cost.

“The time for fear mongering is over,” said Tina Luongo, Attorney-in-Charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “It is time to move towards implementing the needed changes to make reform meaningful throughout New York State.”